the night in adjusting this device and so soon as it was day finding his feet in a condition to support him without danger he mounted to horse and himself carrying the rope along with him repair'd forthwith to the Garden Isabella who there expected him with great impatience was continually watching at the window to spy if she could see him come and her Mistriss would dye if she saw him not that day So soon therefore as ever she set her eye upon him she presently ran to carry the â—ydings to the afflicted Sultaness who upon the instant started up and flew with unimaginable swiftness to the place though her weakness was such as upon any other occasion would hardly have permitted her to set one foot before another where being come she appeared to her happy Lover in a funeral pomp which did not ill set off the whiteness of her skin and which was a great black veil that cover'd her body all over Albirond discover'd in the eyes of his beautiful Mistriss as well as in her habit something that was extraordinary sad and even her posture was so languishing that he was afraid some dire misfortune had befaln her which made him in great anxiety of thought demand of her the cause of so great sadness when the Slave seeing her Mistriss return no answer advanced to speak for her telling him that the Sultaness had like to have died for sorrow at the accident had the other day befaln him which she did apprehend to be much greater than it was by reason he had not been there the day before and that that was the cause of the alteration he saw in her Albirond then acquainted them with the reason and consecutively shew'd them the rope he had brought at the same time linking it at the end of the former which yet hung down and which they also drew up to them and made it fast to the window The trees did so shade the wall of that apartment of the Seraglio that Albirond could not possibly be seen He therefore began his Scalado wherein he scrambled so well and made so good shift what with his hands and what with his feet that at last with much adoe he got up to the window The Sultaness had withdrawn her self into her Chamber for fear of seeing him receive another disgrace so that pulling the rope up to him he follow'd Isabella who led him by a pair of stairs of fifteen or twenty steps which mounted into her Mistrisses Chamber The Sultaness did not as yet appear and the impatience of our Amoroso was such as not longer to endure to be delaid from seeing her which made him with great earnestness demand of Isabella where she was to which the Slave made answer that she was only gone to put on Ornaments more suitable to the present joy of seeing him in that place and would immediately return Accordingly she delaid not to come and at her first entrance into the room throwing herself into the armes of her amorous Gallant she gave him by that action an infallible testimony of an extraordinary passion as Albirond also by devouring kisses and close embraces demonstrated his in which affectionate Contention they naturally strove who should exceed each other I shall not here trouble my Reader nor my self with a description of the furniture of this Apartment within which was a Cabinet or Closet hung with cloath of Gold set all over with Emeralds and Diamonds of which I shall only in general give this short account That it was a place sufficient in it self to have created Love had they brought none along with them The Sultaness led Albirond into this splendid Cabinet where they both of them sate down upon embroyder'd Cushions close by a bed of the Turkish fashion and where being sate they look'd upon one another without speaking one word as both of them knowing one anothers minds without it being necessary that either of them should break the Ice These moments are none of the least happy but they are of very little duration and the violence of passion does with great facility transport us to delights of greater ardor The Beds of that Country are the most commodious in the world for certain little wanton purposes they are very little rais'd from the Ground and love had rendred the fair African so feeble that Albirond with one sigh blew her flat upon her back into the middle of this by which they were seated Who that had seen these two young people in this posture but would have thought the hour of their happiness had been now come wherein to communicate their mutual fires and to mix their souls and that there was now no further obstacle to their full enjoyment of one another but Isabella came just in the nick to spoil the sport and made them to separate in so great haste that it was not a minute to be delaid Ah Madam said she as she entered into the Cabinet pale and almost breathless for fear we are lost we are undone for here is the Beglerbeg come in and is already enter'd the Apartment The very name of the Beglerbeg immediately frose up the bloud of the two Lovers already in the height of Circulation and strook them into so great an astonishment that Albirond knew not which way to take nor what to do but the Sultaness without standing to pause hastily going out lock'd him in the Cabinet from whence he would with all his heart have thrown himself out of the window had it not look'd into the Base-Court of the Seraglio Neither could he go back by the same way he came without danger of meeting the Beblerbeg so that every thing fill'd him with fear and confusion and he fancied every moment that he was already taken He therefore fell to peeping up and down for some little hole or corner wherein to hide himself but the place that in the end conceal'd him was too little to be by him discover'd at first sight and in a hurry and fright wherein he sought it though at last he found a little door in a corner of the Cabinet behind the hangings wherein by good fortune the Key accidentally was and in opening found that it was sir-reverence a house of office The place was very straight and capable of containing very little more than one person only especially one of his bulk and stature however he thought it at this time the finest place that ever he had been in and very glad he was that he had found it and perhaps it was at that time of all others the most proper for him I cannot nevertheless affirm that his joy was altogether perfect For he was not over-safe there and in the apprehension he was some one might perhaps have seen him climb the window who had acquainted the Beglerbeg with it he could not but think he should presently be found out and it was no small cause he had to fear for the least that could befall him should he be taken
interest that you are pleased to defend and it had not been just that you should have abandoned it to the torments of Love seeing you are Mistriss of the secret of raising it to the supreamest degree of happiness by the assurances you have been pleased to give me of so glorious an affection Albirond did not hereafter proceed with so much caution as in prudence he ought to have done and there was enough contein'd in this letter to have destroyed him had his Mistriss been false or her slave unfaithful to him but when a man is once in love he totally neglects his own conservation which is the cause that love with very good reason is painted with a fillet over his eyes In the mean time he past over this night with much greater content than any of those that had gone before not that he slept much better but there is a sort of raving as nourishing and delightful as the soundest sleep and that in recreating the Spirit does nothing abate of the bodies force and vigour Amorous souls are easily enclined to create to themselves very beautiful Ideas and are apt to flatter their own hopes with the fruition of the greatest delights and advantages from the least things imaginable Albironds imagination had already plac'd him in the arms of the fair Sultaness and he talkt to her as if he had had her already really in his embraces What ridiculous things these Lovers are with how great facility does love delude their fancies I see he cry'd my killing fair Darting this way her am'rous rayes And with so languishing an air As an enflam'd desire betrayes From that snowy chest of thine A thousand sighs breath in design To come and wisper in my ear And in an am'rous accent there To say oh Albirond my heart If with love thou wounded art And hast caught it from mine eye In thine armes oh let me dye At which my Soul sensible of thy smart Knows in it's am'rousflame With so much love and so much heart As almost puts me out of breath again My sences in these moments sweet And these false baits amidst that cheat My fancy into joy and sweat Such new vigors do recover As make me think I hold my fair embrast And me too really to taste The true delights of the most happy lover Though Albirond past away a good many happy hours inthese pleasing imaginations yet that wherein he was again to go to visit his adorable Sultaness was of too great importance to be neglected This hour was already come just as he was up and ready drest wherefore taking a very pretty purse he had garnisht with ribons and puting his Ticket into it he took his way towards the Garden where for Love adds wings to the most tardy and slow of pace it was not long before he did arrive His Mistriss was already at her window waiting for him who so soon as he came within her reach rain'd down upon him a shower of fine flowrs together with certain dainty Nosegays she had neatly made and adorn'd with a great number of pearl all which Albirond gathered up and put them into his hat which being done he threw up his little purse which the Sultaness receiv'd with a very good grace and kist it with the same Ceremony and Affection that Albirond had done hers before She very much admired the Work and vvas mightily taken with the gayness of it which was new to her who had never seen any of that fashion before But her curiosity chiefly appear'd in the haste she made to open it to see if there was not also some Ticket within and to her great joy she found that her dear Amoroso had directed one to her she immediately deliver'd it to her slave to interpret which whilst she was doing the Sultaness in her eyes discover'd how much she was delighted with the Contents which she also would sometimes turn towards him and in certain places of the letter with which she was best pleased threw little pibbles at him calling him wag wanton and little fondling After the slave had three or four times read it over to her the Sultaness commanded her to entertain Albirond a while and that she would immediately return The Cavalier took his oportunity of her absence to demand of Isabella if she had indited her Mistris's letter to which she made answer that she had only translated it out of the Sultaness her Morisco into Spanish who had from her transcribed it again in her own hand This Slave had a marvailous share of wit and neither her face nor her fashion were like those of an ordinary Slave which Albirond had very well observ'd and had he thought he should have had time to do it before the Sultaness should return had a mind to have entreated from her some short account of her life and of the adveneure that had brought her to this Captivity but the moments that the Sultaness enjoy'd in his conversation were too ravishing for her longer to forbear to return She came then loaden with sweet-meats of which she made her Lover a very liberal present reserving only some few for her self and her slave which they eat to bear him company He this day likewise received another purse also full of Musk and Civet and Amber-Gris and had this Cavalier had an avaritious Soul he might also have added to the conquest of the heart of so beautiful a person a great number of Jewels and knacks of exceeding great valew but he who never had been good at receiving and whose generous heart wholly enclin'd him to acts of bounty had he had wherewithall to obey his liberal humor could never have forgiven himself and would have lookt upon it as an unpardonable crime should he once have entertain'd so much as a thought of making use of the bounty of this charming Sultaness to extract from thence advantages so mean and so unworthy a man of honor One day entertaining his Mistriss at this rate and telling her the despair he was in that he could not approach nearer to her to have the honor at least to kiss her hand and that the Sultaness manifested to him the same desire Isabella contriv'd a way to satisfie them both in that particular bidding Albirond go look a little below the old pallace where he would find a pipe of Lead through which in summer they convey'd water into the Bath and there try if he could not thrust in his arm Albirond accordingly went and found it true the Slave had told him concerning the pipe which went through the wall and returned to bring them the news Upon which the Sultaness lost no time to go meet her Gallant who so soon as he heard a noyse on the other side of the Wall thrust in his hand which his Mistriss taking she carrest it a thousand pretty wayes and having done so a pretty space put through her own to Albirond's side who kist it a thousand thousand times and paid it back
Marquiss was of a quite contrary humor and all the time he sate at dinner behav'd himself like one that was really sick He eat very little and was so infinitely abated with his passion that one might see in his face a notable alteration My Brother did not well know what to think of it for he observ'd in him a greater melancholy than could naturally accompany an ordinary distemper and therefore tryed in my eyes to learn if I did not know the true cause of his disease I for my part was more civil to him than I us'd to be at other times and I should have yet been more and have given him more testimonies of favor and friendship had I not fear'd there by to have discompos'd Don Pedro so tender we are of offending those we love My Brother then made a motion to them to go visit a Lady of his acquaintance hard by whom he had promis'd to see before he return'd to Valence which Don Pedro readily consented to but the Marquiss would by no means hearken to it excusing himself by reason of his indisposition and also that he must that very day of necessity return to the City though the truth of it was he had no mind longer to continue in the company of a man that he hated to death My Brother notwithstanding who would not put off his visit concluded with Don Pedro and therefore gave order for all the Horses to be sadled for the Marquiss would also take horse to go away at the same time and with Don Pedro went out of the room to make himself ready as he pretended but whilst my Brother staid a little behind to enquire of me if I knew nothing of the cause of this Cavaliers ill humor one came running into the room to tell him that he had mounted with Don Pedro upon two of the first horses came to hand in the stable and that they were both gallopt together full speed towards the wood I then instantly told my Brother that they were certainly gone to fight conjuring him to make all the haste he could after to go and part them My Brother could hardly be induc'd to believe it not being able to imagine that for the little quarrel they had had overnight they would offer to proceed so far especially in a place which they ought to respect in regard to him However he immediately went and in all diligence but came a little too late for the Marquiss whom Don Pedro after having run him through the shoulder had already disarm'd My Brother at his arrival upon the place highly complain'd of their proceeding telling them with some heat that they had his friendship in very little consideration to offer to fight a Duel in a place where he had so great an interest especially upon a quarrel that in all mens judgments must needs pass for a trifle for he never dream'd of any other difference betwixt them but the little dispute they had had overnight about the Glove Don Pedro to excuse himself protested he knew nothing of the quarrel they had fought about and that the Marquiss had in a manner compell'd him to it without having given any reason why but the Marquiss declar'd himself much more to my Brother and so soon as they were together alone that he could speak in private with him acquainted him with the reasons that had induc'd him to this extream relating to him word for word all that I had said to him of the advantageous sentiments I had for his Rival My Brother was for all this by no means satisfied with him but he was yet much more surpriz'd at my behaviour and the liberty where with I had declar'd my self in a choice which ought not altogether to depend upon my own liking especially when in favor of a man to whom he saw no likelihood that I should ever be united He saw a great deal of untoward work throughout the whole adventure but he thought it necessary in the first place above all things to reconcile the two Cavaliers for he much better than I foresaw the consequence of such an affair and therefore would by all means take up the quarrel that the noise of it which could not any way be to my advantage might pass no further I confess I for my own part did not consider it with the discretion that I ought to have done and the fear I had been in of the event of the Combat was wholly converted into an excess of joy when I saw Don Pedro return victorious and unhurt Love depriv'd me of all the resentment that I ought to have had against him for having upon so light an occasion expos'd both his own life mine and it was not till having a little better consider'd of the business that I began to find out how much my own had been concern'd in his danger and then I conceiv'd that I ought for honor's sake at least force my self to express a little anger against Don Pedro. Nay I was in hopes by that means to engage him to love me better and that a little severity upon this occasion would make him more considerate another time in affairs where I was so much concern'd My Brother was so ill satisfied with me that of all that day he would never once come near me and moreover wholly turn'd my Aunt against me by repeating to her what the Marquiss had told him It was no hard matter for me to perceive all this by the cold carriage and angry countenance she put on and consequently I doubted not but that the Marquiss had said my errand but it was no longer time for me to disemble my inclination and Love had too strongly fortified my mind to disavow a thing I was resolute to persist in to the last hour of my life I fear'd nothing and methought was strong enough if my beloved Conqueror was true to me bravely to encounter all the Tempests that I saw were gathering together against me With the thoughts of him I so fortified my self as to be able to conquer all difficulties and the severity of a Father was not of so terrible conscquence but my passion I thought would be able to overcome it But all this while Don Pedro saw me not for my Brother after having reconcil'd the two Rivals had conjur'd them both to desist from any further pursuit if they were not resolv'd totally to break with him adding withal that he had already reason sufficient to be diffâ—tisfied with their proceeding and that to prosecute it further would be in either of them openly to declare themselves an enemy to him To this the two Cavaliers returned no answer perhaps as well to avoid the making him a promise that neither of them had any intention to keep as also because they durst not deny him a thing which they conceiv'd was not handsomly to be denyed to the Brother of their Mistriss and a man who was their own intimate friend My Brother nevertheless took this